phenomenal
Americanadjective
-
highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional.
phenomenal speed.
- Synonyms:
- unprecedented, surpassing, outstanding, uncommon
-
of or relating to phenomena.
-
of the nature of a phenomenon; cognizable by the senses.
adjective
-
of or relating to a phenomenon
-
extraordinary; outstanding; remarkable
a phenomenal achievement
-
philosophy known or perceived by the senses rather than the mind
Other Word Forms
- nonphenomenal adjective
- nonphenomenally adverb
- phenomenality noun
- phenomenally adverb
- semiphenomenal adjective
- semiphenomenally adverb
- unphenomenal adjective
- unphenomenally adverb
Etymology
Origin of phenomenal
First recorded in 1815–25; phenomen(on) + -al 1
Explanation
If you think something is amazing, astounding, or marvelous, you can also call it phenomenal. Your dog's phenomenal performance at the agilty competition earned her a blue ribbon — and a handful of biscuits. Phenomenal things aren't just cool — they're truly remarkable and possibly even unique. Your sister's campaign to raise money for cancer research, which amassed a million dollars in two weeks? That's phenomenal. And Serena Williams, having won an unprecedented 23 Grand Slam titles, is without question a phenomenal tennis player. This extraordinary word comes from the relatively ordinary Greek phainomenon, "appearance," and its Proto-Indo-European root bha-, "to shine."
Vocabulary lists containing phenomenal
The Crossover
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Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)
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Boy: Tales of Childhood
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I think that when Arsenal wake up, they can be absolutely phenomenal and they're also very creative. If they get this right then they can stay where they are."
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
“It’s a phenomenal opportunity for somebody else to put his or her stamp on the company for the next generation,” Narayen said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
“She has done a phenomenal job in her role by protecting American workers, enacting fair labor practices, and helping Americans gain additional skills to improve their lives.”
From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026
In an earlier post announcing her departure, White House communications director Steven Cheung praised the "phenomenal job" she had done in the role.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
And by the end of May, the boys were again turning in phenomenal times on the water.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
